Ocoee Bans Net Fishing In Emergency Ordinance

OCOEE — City commissioners late Tuesday passed an emergency measure to ban cast- net fishing on city lakes.

Enforcement of the ordinance will begin after signs are posted. The city was hoping to have the signs printed Wednesday and posted by Thursday.

However, an official of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission said Ocoee has no authority to regulate fishing in Starke Lake, Deep Lake (sometimes called Prima Vista Lake) or any of the other lakes in the city.

Lt. John Moran of the game commission said commercial fishermen may use nets to catch non-game fish. They are mostly interested in Nile perch and catfish, he said.

City attorney Frank Kruppenbacher said he could not vouch for the legality of the cast-net rule. He said he was researching several alternatives the city could take to get fishermen off the lakes.

Kruppenbacher drafted the ordinance in a 10-minute recess after commissioners decided to ban the nets when resident Tom West complained fishermen on Deep Lake were yelling obscenities in the middle of the night and disturbing property owners. West said he was worried the fishermen were taking fish other than those allowed by law.

''At 2:30 in the morning, they can keep anything,'' Commissioner John Bateman agreed.

The ordinance banning cast-net fishing in all public lakes and streams in the city took effect immediately and is set to expire Aug. 6. By then, Kruppenbacher said, the city should have a carefully prepared ordinance that will stand up in court. That ordinance could be passed at the city's Aug. 5 meeting as an emergency measure so there is no gap in the ban.

Moran said the city could request the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to set hours governing use of the lakes but it would take several public hearings and about a year to accomplish. He said many fishermen roam the lakes at night because they have daytime jobs.

Kruppenbacher said Orlando regulates its downtown lakes and he is checking to see how the city can legally do it. Two other possibilities are to enforce laws about disturbing the peace and to set regulations about the use of public boats ramps.